Part 1 of this article deals with the tension between Divine & human healing in the Bible & the Talmud. Part 2 focuses on the halakhic status of medical practice &, in particular, the question of whether or not it constitutes the fulfillment of an independent halakhic obligation (mitzvah) in Jewish life. Part 3 is concerned with the legality of coercive life-sustaining medical treatment & the role played by patient autonomy in this area of the law. The theological aspect of human healing is referred to in part 4, & part 5 is devoted to a discussion of recent Israeli cases involving coercive medical therapy & end of life issues.